Race in Nigeria to repair four of its outdated refineries and stop fuel imports

According to Nigeria's newly appointed oil minister, all four oil refineries should be operational by the end of the year, with the southern Port Harcourt facility perhaps starting up as early as December.The government said last year that the Port Harcourt refinery would start processing oil by the end of 2022. To restart, modify, or expand the refineries, NNPC Ltd executives and consecutive oil ministers have put out a variety of futile schemes. Heineken Lokpobiri, who returned to his position as Nigeria's minister of state for petroleum this week, checked on the ongoing renovations at the two-unit Port Harcourt refinery today. He said that two further facilities in Warri and Kaduna will begin processing crude between the first quarter and the end of 2024. "From what we have seen here today, Port Harcourt refinery will come on board by the end of the year," he said.